It’s not enough to clobber political opponents in a paid political announcement, but political campaigns now include threats against American citizens when it comes to voting.
That’s what employees at a McDonald’s franchise in Canton, Ohio experienced when they opened their paychecks. Enclosed with their paychecks was a letter informing employees voting GOP would save their jobs and benefits.
“If the right people are elected, we will be able to continue with raises and benefits at or above our present levels,” McDonald’s store manager Paul Siegfried wrote in the letter. “If others are elected, we will not.”
As elections draw near, we expect to hear people tearing down one another viciously for the trophy of their desired office. Now voters feel that vicious tongue with their employers indirectly threatening their livelihood as employees.
But was Siegfried alone responsible? Even with the new free speech laws for corporations, is McDonald’s at fault? Could it be the trespass of the candidates’ campaign offices?
It was printed on company stationery with the McDonald’s logo right above recommendations for Republicans John Kasich for governor, Rob Portman for U.S. Senate and Jim Renacci for Ohio’s 16th congressional district.The letter was accompanied by a Renacci campaign flier.
Siegfried gave an excuse along the lines of, “Distributing this communication was an error of judgment on my part.” And the McDonald’s corporation claimed no involvement, condemning Siegfried’s behavior.
To a certain extent, it’s silly to point a finger–because we don’t have enough fingers to address the problem’s sources and our hands have less idle occupations calling.
We have a story about a boss who abuses his position and threatens his employees and their means of income, trying to eliminate their free choice.
The boss works for a corporation who, like Disney World and Starbucks, is based on artificially providing the most “authentic” life experience in order to make a buck.
And Republican and Democratic candidates are engaging an ersatz political system, which thrives by masking tyranny and greed as a race to prove who can “serve” the people the best.
The people, American citizens, have more options under free choice than choosing between the selections on a ballot. American citizens have the option to not vote at all, to flip off a system that has forsaken its original purpose and has made special allowances for corporations to act as individuals.
And we’re surprised when these corporations openly encourage voter intimidation?
